Yolo County organization offers reward for info on dog abuser

Rotts of Friends Animal Rescue is offering $1,000 reward to bring an animal abuser to justice.

Left in the suspect's wake is Doogie, a 6 to 7 month-old malnourished puppy with a laundry list of ailments, who was days away from dying, according to the organization based in the rural area between Woodland and Davis.

"It's horrendous. It's an awful, awful case," said Renee Lancaster, the nonprofit's founder. "It's obvious he's been this way his whole life, it didn't just happen. There's got to be someone out there who knows what happened to this little guy."

Doogie was found dehydrated and very hypothermic from having no hair and no fur. Lancaster described him as "a little walking skeleton."

Since Monday, Lancaster and her team of volunteers have cared for Doogie, after he was discovered by a driver in the vicinity of Highway 113 and County Road 27 Sunday night.

"This is right outside the door of the golf course area of Davis in a ritzy area," Lancaster said. "(Animal abuse) goes on in places you wouldn't suspect. This has been going on six to seven months, so someone has had to have seen him. It's heartbreaking."

Doogie was initially taken to the UC Davis Veterinary Hospital, where doctors suggested euthanasia.

When Lancaster heard of his plight, she wouldn't hear of putting him down.

"I want him," she said. "I'm a vet tech. I know starvation and mange is not a reason to put a dog asleep. Those are the ones who need the help the most."

Mange is actually the least of Doogie's problems, Lancaster said. The mite infection has left the pup without fur, which is reversible, and in turn he is hypothermic without protection from the cold. He has open abrasions on his skin and was starving -- at least 25 pounds underweight.

Lancaster said it's quite possible Doogie will outgrow his heart murmur, which may be due to his dehydration and overall illness.

"I just think he didn't get a fair shake at Davis. He hadn't even had a full work up yet," said Lancaster. "He's a lovely puppy. He's making dramatic improvements, which is very expected in cases like this."

Starvation cases need strict, rigid high protein diets, Lancaster said. Doogie is eating five small meals per day so his system doesn't get overwhelmed as he starts to put on weight.

"Today he had a good day. He is happy and was wagging his little tail," Lancaster said Thursday. "He's a trooper. We've already seen improvement."

Doogie is on antibiotics for secondary skin infections and his treatment will take months. Lancaster and volunteers are posting updates about his progress on the organization's Facebook page.

They have received quite a response from the posts, from donations toward the reward to sweaters for Doogie, who now has himself a little wardrobe.

Lancaster said Rotts of Love appreciates Doogie's support group and welcomes anyone to visit him at the facility to give him some love or take him for a walk, she said.

In the meantime, Lancaster is hoping someone with information that leads to the arrest of Doogie's abuser will come forward and give him some justice.

Anyone with information may stay anonymous, but contact information is needed to accept the reward.

"I'm just sick that this goes on in our county and we haven't had a case that's been followed through and prosecuted," she said. "Somebody needs to be stopped. We have laws for a reason. There's been too many of these ugly cases lately. You can't let this happen to animals."

Follow Doogie's improvement at Rotts of Friends Facebook page, facebook.com/rottsoffriends. People are welcome to visit him at the rescue organization located at 34505 CR-29 in Woodland.

If people have information about Doogie's abuser, call Lancaster at 681-1326.